Short Fuse Syndrome
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 13:47:34 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: aggression/play
<< she has a "short fuse" and she only takes a couple of minutes to switch from play to aggression - Wouldn't everyone with captive big cat experience *generally* agree that this is the norm? Actually, I think it's the norm for, so called, "domestic" cats too... >>
This is normal. It isn't a short fuse but actually a chemical that is released in the brain, caused by over stimulation. This interupts the normal flow of neurotransmittions, sort of like a wire short circuiting. Or PMS. I know that this is over simplified, it is a lot more complex, but you get the picture. The stimulus can be a miriad of things or factors. More often than not the "short fuse" is a chain reaction response to multiple stimuli, that have interupted the normal CNS action and the chemical balance.
There are other animals that respond in like manner to stimulation. Certain horses, llamas, bears, cattle, goats and some types of pigs and non human primates, just to name a few. There are several disorders in humans that also respond this way to over stimulation. In working with people who have certain mental illnesses or are autistic for example, descreased or controled stimuli helps with behavior control management. There have been some very interesting studies done in on the affects of cults and mindcontrol groups using this "short fuse" as a switch. It is believed to be an inate survival mechinism, that effects more than just cats.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 13:41:58 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: aggression/play
I would agree Dawn and that is why we do not allow the larger cats to put their teeth on us in anyway what so ever and correct that behavior from the time they are very young with a sharp no mouth command. We also do not allow them to jump up on us because it ain't cute when they are large and is dangerous and puts everybody in the situation at an unrequired risk. Just my 2 cents worth. Glenda